Strong Naum 3 tournament with long TC (120/40)

[Dr.Wael Deeb]

Unfortunately my old PC seems to be dead When I returned to my home wednesday night I was confused because the PC was shut down (It should have been running with the current 40/120 tournament as it have been doing non-stop since game 1). It's impossible to turn on the computer, a good friend visited me tonight and he believes (I agree) that the motherboard is dead/broken.

Needless to say, this is a huge disappointment but I admit that I was afraid that it would happend sooner or later. I bought this motherboard (socket 939, Asus A8V) several years ago with the AMD San Diego 4000+ CPU and continued with this motherboard when I bought the X2 4200+ CPU. While running the old PEJ-Ratinglist, The CSS SMP Ratinglist, my current tests and a lot of private tests never published my PC has been running for days and weeks without breaks. Perhaps I'm now paying the price for this exhausting use of my PC but as a tester you want to produce results as quick as possible. I wonder if other testers also let their computers run 24/7 for weeks or do you give it a break every day??

My girlfriend has borrowed me an old laptop and fortunately I have internetconnection on this one so that I can write these words. I won't buy a new socket 939 motherboard (if you can buy them at all in 2008??) but try and save some money and buy a Quadcore PC. Until then I will continue to participate in this Forum but ofcourse without reporting testresults. I already miss it.....

Regards
Per

Don't get so sad Per,just think from the bright side of the story....this break up will result in forcing you to buy a much powerfull and up to date PC,right

[Spock]

Are you sure it isn't the power supply which has gone ?

[Heinz Van Kempen]

Hi Per ,

bad luck, but Ray maybe right and it is only the power supply.

I let my PC´s run 24/7 and was lucky so far.

[Yarget]

Yes, this is indeed bad luck Unfortuntely it has nothing to do with the powersupply. My friend is an IT-expert (he built that PC and the one I had before the one that just crashed) and according to him the motherboard is the reason for the brake-down (I'm really no expert but I trust him).

Don't get so sad Per,just think from the bright side of the story....this break up will result in forcing you to buy a much powerfull and up to date PC,right

Basicly you are right Wael and you should know that I for some time have started to consider buying a new Quadcore PC. Perhaps I should replace the word consider with dreaming because I can't afford it right now. Perhaps I will buy a lottery ticket later today to see if there is a short cut....

Perhaps I have simply been unlucky but I would like to know if some of the testers in this forum (Graham, Tony, Heinz, Erik, Ray, Martin, George, Werner, Gerhard and others) have had similar problems? I also wonder if an "ordinary" NON-server PC is designed to run 24/7 with 100% CPU use for several weeks or even months? After my latest experience I might consider to treat my next PC a bit more careful.

Regards
Per

[Graham Banks]

Yes, this is indeed bad luck Unfortuntely it has nothing to do with the powersupply. My friend is an IT-expert (he built that PC and the one I had before the one that just crashed) and according to him the motherboard is the reason for the brake-down (I'm really no expert but I trust him).

Don't get so sad Per,just think from the bright side of the story....this break up will result in forcing you to buy a much powerfull and up to date PC,right

Basicly you are right Wael and you should know that I for some time have started to consider buying a new Quadcore PC. Perhaps I should replace the word consider with dreaming because I can't afford it right now. Perhaps I will buy a lottery ticket later today to see if there is a short cut....

Perhaps I have simply been unlucky but I would like to know if some of the testers in this forum (Graham, Tony, Heinz, Erik, Ray, Martin, George, Werner, Gerhard and others) have had similar problems? I also wonder if an "ordinary" NON-server PC is designed to run 24/7 with 100% CPU use for several weeks or even months? After my latest experience I might consider to treat my next PC a bit more careful.

Regards
Per

I've been incredibly lucky. I run all of my comps 24/7 at 100% cpu usage and the only problems I've had are with replacing the odd fan or power supply when they've started getting noisy. No hard drive failures yet - touch wood.

[Tony Thomas]

I used all three of my computers for more than 5 or 6 years before I had to replace them due to advancing technology. I have had the current one for more than three years, and the only problem that I have is CPU over heating (its also very slow, blame me), but the computer automatically shuts down before anything bad happens.

[Spock]

Perhaps I have simply been unlucky but I would like to know if some of the testers in this forum (Graham, Tony, Heinz, Erik, Ray, Martin, George, Werner, Gerhard and others) have had similar problems? I also wonder if an "ordinary" NON-server PC is designed to run 24/7 with 100% CPU use for several weeks or even months? After my latest experience I might consider to treat my next PC a bit more careful.

Regards
Per

I'm not sure how many years you are talking about with that machine - but no reason why a desktop PC should not be run 24/7 at 100% load for months on end. The only difference between that and a server, is that a server is normally in an airconditioned room, and normally they are not pegged at 100% either. So the server gets an easier time.

Heat is your enemy. A well ventilated case is a good idea.

I have had machines run 24/7 for months on end for 3+ years, only given a rest when they've been turned off 2-3 times a year for the heatsinks to be cleared of dust and dust accumulation generally. I've never had a motherboard failure, but have had 2 power supplies go pop. They are the most vulnerable. A high quality power supply rated well above how much power you actually need to draw, is essential.

[Yarget]

Thank you guys for your quick replies. Well, the conclusion must be that even an "ordinary" desktop PC should be able to run 24/7 for very long periods and in several years. Ofcourse you need a bit of luck (Motherboard, CPU, RAM and so on must be 100% intact when you buy them) but if you have this luck then you should be able to put your PC through long, exhausting tests.

After reading your comments Ray I admit that I have at least done 2 mistakes that might have reduced the lifetime of my motherboard:

Heat is your enemy. A well ventilated case is a good idea.

Unfortunately I had a very cheap (Made in China) and quite small case. I won't repeat that mistake next time I buy a new PC.

only given a rest when they've been turned off 2-3 times a year for the heatsinks to be cleared of dust and dust accumulation generally.

Yesterday when my friend and I opened the case we discovered a LOT of dust. I must admit that until yesterday the case hasn't been opened for at least 2 years! This is clearly a mistake that also might have reduced the lifetime of my motherboard.

If there is anything good in this situation then it must be that I've learned a couple of things that I can use in the future. More advices/experiences are ofcourse welcome.

Regards
Per

[Heinz Van Kempen]

Hi Per ,

I am running my machines for 24/7 for years already except for a few hours for cleaing them all two months, especially the fans and in summer there maybe a pause when it is really hot and temperatures with running machines are getting unbearable. I think PC´s are designed that way that it can be done without problems. That from time to time there might to something you have to replace is not unusual.

I would also recommend a bigger case (big tower or bigger miditower), a good arctic cooler for the CPU instead of the standard one delivered by Intel with the quads (at least in Germany) and a good power supply. Personally I have good experiences with "Be Quiet" here (450W). They are low noise and effective, but a bit expensive. I guess there are others equally good and cheaper.

By the way there are tools for watching the CPU temperature for example for ASUS boards.

[Graham Banks]

Thank you guys for your quick replies. Well, the conclusion must be that even an "ordinary" desktop PC should be able to run 24/7 for very long periods and in several years. Ofcourse you need a bit of luck (Motherboard, CPU, RAM and so on must be 100% intact when you buy them) but if you have this luck then you should be able to put your PC through long, exhausting tests.

After reading your comments Ray I admit that I have at least done 2 mistakes that might have reduced the lifetime of my motherboard:

Heat is your enemy. A well ventilated case is a good idea.

Unfortunately I had a very cheap (Made in China) and quite small case. I won't repeat that mistake next time I buy a new PC.

only given a rest when they've been turned off 2-3 times a year for the heatsinks to be cleared of dust and dust accumulation generally.

Yesterday when my friend and I opened the case we discovered a LOT of dust. I must admit that until yesterday the case hasn't been opened for at least 2 years! This is clearly a mistake that also might have reduced the lifetime of my motherboard.

If there is anything good in this situation then it must be that I've learned a couple of things that I can use in the future. More advices/experiences are ofcourse welcome.

Regards
Per

Yes - you need to monitor your cpu temperatures and vacuum out your comp case when things start getting too hot.